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Cell– where columns & rows meet
Cell Reference – the number & letter given to a cell
Numbers – are the data used in the formula
Formulas – calculate the data to get a useful result
Labels – identify what the numbers represent
Formula Bar – where you type information into your spreadsheet
Active Cell – a cell or range of cells that are highlighted

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There are 3 steps to putting information into a spreadsheet

  1. Choose a cell
  2. Type in your information (number, label or formula)
  3. Enter, tab or arrow keys

If you want to put in the days of the week, months of the year or even a sequence of numbers, Excel allows you a short cut to putting that stuff in.

3 steps to using the short cut (for Titles)

  1. Click cell & Type in info
  2. Place cursor over black box in the bottom right corner
  3. Drag until you have desired outcome & release

3 steps to using the short cut (for Numbers)

  1. Type the first number
  2. Highlight cells (to fill into)
  3. Fill-series

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Spreadsheets can be updated whenever they need to be

3 steps to updating your spreadsheet

  1. Double click cell
  2. Type in new info
  3. Enter

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This allows you to give your information a little more color

This option in found under the Home Tab

3 steps to formatting your information

  1. Highlight cells
  2. Cell styles icon
  3. Choose a style

Formatting Numbers

  • This allows you to make numbers currency, percentages, decimals, etc.
  • Sometimes depending on the format that you chose you may have to define it. Use currency example or percentage.
  • 4 steps to formatting numbers
  • Highlight numbers to format
  • Right click-format cells
  • Click number tab
  • Choose format, ok

**Currency and Accounting are NOT the same!!!!

Formatting of cells

  • You can give borders to your cells(highlight cells to put borders around)
  • Border button found under Home Tab
  • Can put border in and then change color and thickness(line style) of lines if you choose
  • You can change the alignment of each cell
  • This option allows you to text wrap your titles
  • This can be done two ways
  • Right click on cells and go to Format Cells
  • Go to alignment tab
  • Put a check mark in box that say Wrap Text
  • OR
  • Highlight cell with info to wrap
  • Click text wrap icon
  • Merging Cells button on Home Tab looks like:
  • This allows you to make two cells into one cell
  • Three steps to merging cells
  • Type in information
  • Highlight cells to merge
  • Click merge cells button
  • You can also change the angle of your text
  • Angle text button
  • This allows you to have your text go different directions within the cell

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When you open a spread sheet your sheet has a generic name called “Sheet 1”

You can give a name to your sheet if you would like

  • 2 Steps to naming your sheet
  • Right click on the sheet – Choose Rename
  • Type name, enter

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This option is found under the Insert Tab

A header will explain the information on the spreadsheet

  • Example “2009 Tax Return Information”

The footer usually displays page numbers

  • 3 steps to putting in a header or footer
  • Insert Tab – Header & Footer Icon
  • Type in Header or Footer
  • Modify text – click outside box